Hamstring Avulsion (complete tear from pelvis)

[Jason Pickrell]

Thanks for the repley. How far are you into rehab? Did your sciatic nerve have much scare tissue? What is the trick to using the bathroom?

[hamstring avulsion in MD]

Jason,
Good luck! Who is doing your surgery? The nerve damage really depends on how the tendon retracted. I had a full tear but was fortunate that the tendon did not get near the sciatic nerve, therefore, no scarring between the two. I am 14 weeks post op with little to no pain, only when I sit on a hard surface for a long time. I am thrilled with my progress....just having more challenges with a second injury post op falling off the crutches. As far as the bathroom, depends on how they brace you. I was only in a knee brace at 90 degrees for 6 weeks. Some prescribe the hip brace or one that connects the ankle to the hip. Definitely get the raised toilet and I suggest a walker for in the house, much more stable. I would also suggest ordering one of those, or getting at a thrift shop, hospital tables that go over the bed. I was restricted to laying on my opposite side for 2 weeks, no sitting or laying on my back.
Sleeping is tough with the brace, get some melatonin to help with that! Felt like forever at the time, but seems like forever ago now that I was on those crutches! Keep reading these posts to see how people dealt with stuff. You will read some drama, ignore that, it is a great site to help you understand the process.
Good luck & happy healing! BTW, my doc was in Baltimore out of Hopkins.

[merrybaker]

I realized this afternoon, my surgery was 1 year ago on the 29th! My hamstring has healed wonderfully, though I still have difficulties due to the nerve damage. The other day I even fell on the floor after slipping on some water I thought I had picked up! The good thing is, I no longer do the splits. Have lots of pain issues, that they say are from the bulging discs I have from my fall. Having another epidural on 1/11 to try to get the pain under control.

Even though I have pain issues, I am very glad I had the surgery. The hamstring works, my atrophied muscle is coming back. I had thought about cross country skiing again, but after my fall figured I better take it easy.

I do not remember much of last years new year, since I was only two days post op, so HAPPY NEW YEAR to all, and to all A GOOD NIGHT!

[hamstring avulsion in MD]

Happy New Year & congrats on the anniversary! Funny how I had been off here for so long after it became my daily support! Sorry to hear about your pain, I was fortunate to not have the nerve pain.
Hang in there & my guess, you are fine to X-country ski....go for me! I have till March 24 to "take it easy" to ensure full re-attachment! From what my doc says, your tendon is stronger than ever having completely reattached through the scar tissue growing tenacles into the bone plus the anchors....you are solid! Stay healthy!

[Jason Pickrell]

My surgery is being done by Dr. Mark Smith, he is one of the Louisville basketball doctors in Kentucky. Did anyone take off the brace during the first six weeks? (sleeping, comfort, dressing?) Also if you use a E-Stim machine on your injured leg during first six weeks would that help the leg from atrophying as bad?

[sunluver12]

Hello Jason, You asked if anyone took off their brace. I didn't have a brace, my doctor did not think they're necessary for this surgery. I do hope you have one though, I'm ten months post surgery and have stopped healing at about 80%. I didn't have the surgery for a year and a half and that may be the problem, hard to say, but I do wonder had I had a brace, would I have a better outcome. I am able to run up to 5 miles but that seems to be the max. The next day I pay for it. I feel I should be grateful since so many others in this world have it much worse for sure, but i really was hoping to be able to be back to my old level of fitness. I've scheduled a new appointment with another surgeon to see if I injured it by walking on my leg immediately following surgery (crutches only.) I'm glad to hear your doctor is taking every precaution from the get-go. Keep us all informed and good luck to you!

[drq]

It has been awhile since I've read posts from previous members. Glad to see things are well for them. Jason, sorry to hear about your injury. You've come to the right place. It will take you a long time to read all the posts but try to read them the best you can. When I was injured there were probably half the posts. But all of them were so valuable that you can learn many things and tricks that we've all learned from each other. I was in a brace from my ankle to my upper thigh for 6 weeks. It was uncomfortable at first but trust me, you will get used to it and adapt. It was locked in a 45 degree angle. I took it off to do therapy after week 3. But only during that time and when I did my own therapy at home. My injury was 2/14/10 and my surgery was 3/15/10. My last visit with my surgeon was in late December and I was given the green light to do what I wanted. My injury was from a snow skiing accident. This past Sunday 1/9/11 we had a group of families head out to a ski resort in western PA and I was back on the slopes with my wife and 2 boys. It was a great feeling because I often wondered if I could ever do that again. Now I know and I hope everybody here knows that we can all get through this and get back to our previous activities. I may not be doing all the jumps or grinding over the snowboard ramps like before. Trust me, I've learned my lesson. But hopefully we all stay positve and continue to heal. Jason, you're just getting started. It will seem difficult at first, but you will get the hang of everything and move right along and heal just like the rest of us. Good luck!!
drq

[tricializ]

Welcome Jason.
I'm sorry you have had to find us. This board was a Godsend when I was getting ready for my surgery. I learned so much and it really helped to know what I was facing. I did have the brace and had it from around my waist to the top of my knee. I hated it. I mean REALLY hated it. But I kept it on (xanax helped. haha as did netflix on my laptop). I was the lone person who had no physical therapy of any king and I was very distressed by this. My doctor was a believer in really letting it heal and not overdoing it at all. He felt that therapy would overdo it. I was really upset for weeks about this but I will tell you that today, I am 9+ months since the surgery and I am 100% in terms of what I can do with the leg. I have no pain on any sprinting, lifting, stretching etc. The ONLY pain I have is sciatic nerve pain and pain when sitting on hard surfaces. I guess that is fairly common sitting on those titanium anchors. But athletically I am completely healed. I am 45 F, pretty active, teach dance etc.
So, my advice is to follow what your doctor says to the letter. It doesn't guarantee a good outcome, but they do know what they are doing if they have done this surgery before and it's really important no matter which regimen they pick.
Good luck and it will get better.
Tricia

[Jason Pickrell]

This is first I have read about sciatic pain from the screws. That does not sound good. I am sure he with do the same to me. Did anyone else experience this?

[Jason Pickrell]

Surgery is January 20 th.